Important Facts About Guru Purnima

What is Guru Purnima?
Guru Purnima is a festival that is dedicated to Sage Veda Vyasa. It is believed that he was born on this day and it is also called Vyasa Purnima. Veda Vyasa is regarded as a great guru and supposedly, he classified the Vedas into four categories- Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. He was the author of the longest epic in the world, the Mahabharata.

Guru Purnima is a day to honor teachers and spiritual leaders. The Sanskrit word, ‘Guru’ has two roots - ‘Gu’ which means ‘darkness’ and ‘Ru’ meaning ‘removal of darkness or ignorance.’ The Guru rids us of our ignorance and shows us the path of salvation. Guru Purnima is important for Buddhists too. On this day, Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath. The day is significant for Jains as well. 

The Legend of Adi Guru
The Adi Guru was born on this day. According to legend, around 15,000 years ago, a sage appeared in the Himalayas. He would sit in one place, quietly, with his eyes closed. Sometimes, tears would fall from his eyes. Meanwhile, seven men gathered around him and when, after many days, he opened his eyes, the men begged him to tell them what he was doing. He explained that he was meditating and closed his eyes again. The men too stayed there for 84 years with their eyes closed. 
Finally, when the sage opened his eyes, he was pleased to see them still there and imparted his wisdom to them. These seven men were called the ’Sapta Rishis’ and they travelled to all parts of the world to disseminate the wisdom that ‘Adi Guru’ had instilled in them.

Significance of Guru Purnima
The full moon day of Ashada is celebrated as Guru Purnima. It comes in July or August. On this occasion, communities called Samarohas organize cultural programs. Devotees offer fruits, flowers or sweets to their Guru. On Guru Purnima, people worship Vyasa to honor his divine powers. Guru Purnima is significant to farmers as well. Observing the festival helps to bring rain for the crops. This is an auspicious time for starting spiritual lessons. Those who aspire to a spiritual life commence their ‘sadhana’ from this day.

Chaturmas, a period of four months, begins from this day. On this day, we should visit all our teachers and ‘Gurus’ and pay our respects. People often donate food and clothes on Guru Purnima. This helps them to seek the blessings of the departed souls of ‘Gurus.’ Guru Purnima is celebrated in recognition of the fact that Gurus form the link between a disciple and immortality. It is a day to appreciate and praise Gurus for their wealth of knowledge and spirit and for providing great books like Puranas, Vedas, Srimad Bhagavata, Mahabharata, etc. 

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